News Highlights Wednesday 5 March 2008

The Business Times, P1


Analysts paint bleak earnings outlook
Companies in Singapore may see earnings per share (EPS) improve by a mere 5.9 per cent in 2008, making it the market with the third worst outlook in Asia. Hong Kong fares even worse, with its companies expected to register a 2.5 per cent decline in EPS this year. However, Thailand is poised to have the region’s highest growth in EPS – 50.9 per cent. Second is China with an expected growth of 33.6 per cent. Listed companies in India, Indonesia and Korea are expected to boost their EPS by about 17 to 18 per cent.




The Business Times, P3


Singapore tops among Asian expats: survey
According to the latest survey by human resources consultancy firm ECA International, Singapore ranks as the best place for Asian expatriates to live worldwide. Singapore is also rated by Europeans and Americans as the best place in Asia to live. This was down to high quality infrastructure and health facilities, combined with low health risks, air pollution, crime rates and a cosmopolitan population. 1,500 companies globally buy this report by ECA International and so the ranking can greatly influence hiring policies.



The Business Times, P7


KepLand to launch US$206m Vietnam project in Q4
After announcing eight new development projects in Vietnam last year, Keppel Land plans to launch one of these in the fourth quarter of this year. The waterfront residential project is a 2,400-unit condominium development in District 7 fronting the Ca Cam River in Ho Chi Minh City. It will be developed in phases, with the first phase comprising 700 units to be launched in the fourth quarter. Keppel Land will take a 75 per cent stake in the project, with its Vietnamese partner Tan Truong Co Ltd taking the remaining 25 per cent.




The Business Times, P8

S’pore bags 2nd solar cell water fab
Singapore has attracted a second world-scale solar cell water fabrication plant, also from Norway. NorSun’s US$300 million planned solar cell water fab in Jurong will be in operational in the third quarter of 2009, and will be its largest worldwide. The 30,000 sq m facility in Jurong will employ 300 professionals – mostly local.



The Business Times, P8


For sale: 18th floor of Peninsula Plaza at $17.5m
Novelty Department Store Pte Ltd, part of the Novelty Group, has put up the entire 18th floor of Peninsula Plaza up for sale, with a price tag of about $17.5 million or about $2,050 psf of strata area. Peninsula Plaza is a 999-year leasehold building near Raffles City. The 18th floor has an area of 8,514 sq ft – all of which are leased. DTZ is marketing the property. It notes that current monthly asking rents for offices in the building range from $7 psf to $8 psf.



The Business Times, P9


4th varsity may ofer courses in high-growth industries
The government plans to set up a new mid-sized university within a few years’ time, with an eventual annual intake of between 2,500 and 3,000 students. The focus would be on high growth areas such as clean technology and sustainable building design, and tourism and hospitality. The government also plans to establish a small liberal arts college that would be affiliated to one of the three existing local universities.